The week Jack Frost came to town!

 Time to catch up here again!

Last Monday (October 30) I knew we were about to get really cold weather, so I cut all the roses that were blooming and brought them into the house.  Their fragrance was amazing.  I often inhaled deeply as I walked by them throughout the week.  

That day I made roasted sausage and veggies, and after I picked up Elizer from preschool we took some of it over to Anthony and Lori's.  As always, the highlight of that trip was getting to see Austin as he got home from school while we were there.

In the evening we took our usual Monday evening trip to see Destiny at work.  

When we got home Elizer tried on some pirate dress-up clothes.

Destiny had gotten him these pajamas that day, and of course I had to take some pictures to send her at work.

Tuesday was Halloween.  When I brought Elizer home from preschool I decided to see if his winter coat would fit under his trick or treat costume.  It DID!!  I was so glad, because it was going to be cold that evening!  He looked like a fat Ninja turtle and he loved it!

 

Then I decided to look up pictures of him from the previous Halloweens.  That first one!!!

Dick took Elizer around the neighborhood.  Lori and Hunter and Destiny caught up with them after a while.  I'm so disappointed I did not get a picture of Hunter. 

Destiny always loves crafts and activities!  After trick or treat we decorated some cookies.

Here are some pics of other grandchildren in their costumes - Brennan on the left, Destiny's younger sisters on the top right, Sammy and Bianca on the bottom right.  

 

I took this picture when I came out to the kitchen on Wednesday morning.  My cactus has been blooming so beautifully, and the roses were too.  

I know I made shepherd's pie that day and took some of it over to Anthony and Lori's, but I can't remember anything else about that day, since I didn't take any other pictures. 

This was the temperature that greeted us on Thursday morning.  Welcome, winter.  Yikes!

Of course, as usual, I did our laundry and worked on choir music that day.

I took these pictures after we got home from preschool.  He had just discovered the octopus and decided he needed to take it home to sleep with that night. 

We had choir practice that evening. 

I just had to take this picture when I dropped Elizer off at preschool Friday morning.  There is an adorable little girl in his class who is his best friend.  He is so gentle with her and she loves him so much. 

I made four broccoli bacon quiches that day and took two of them over to Anthony and Lori's.  

That evening we worked on the activities we did not have time for on Halloween evening.  Pumpkin carving and making a version of "dirt pudding."  Lots of fun!

On Saturday evening we had probably our last campfire of the year.  It was a milder day, and I really wanted to take advantage of the last evening before the time change. 

I took this picture at 6:08 pm, knowing it will be months before this happens again.  

Sunday afternoon was also mild and pleasant.  We went hiking with Lori and Hunter.  Anthony was in Philly for the weekend at a guitar show. Austin was going to hike with us, but he lost interest when he realized Destiny was at work.  He decided to sit in the car instead.  Sound like a teenager?  

We had lots of fun!  Crossing streams was interesting, but no one got wet feet!

I took this picture from the parking lot of the hiking trail.  I was imagining what a view they must have from that house over there!

I gotta run!  Today's my birthday and we'll be doing a little celebrating here this evening.  

A warm October week

 More autumn beauty last week!

Monday morning was actually the coldest we'd had so far (36 degrees), but it warmed up later and was the beginning of a really warm week!  I LOVED it.  Except I had just switched out my closets the previous Saturday and had to keep going over to the guest room closet for short-sleeved tops all week!

I took these two pictures on my way back home Monday morning after taking Elizer to preschool.  I'm so glad I took them, because now, a week later, these leaves are almost all down.

I made Spanish Country soup that day for the first time in quite a while.  YUM!!  Potatoes, sausage, onions and garlic, garbanzo beans, great northern beans, chicken broth, and then spinach at the very end.  Served with crusty bread.  

After I picked Elizer up from preschool we took some of the soup over to Anthony and Lori's, and I took this picture on the way there.  

On the way back home we stopped at "airport park." At first there was just one other boy there.  They had the most fun running and chasing each other.  After a while more kids came, and he had even more fun.  

That evening we took Elizer to see Destiny at work, since she would be working till 11:00.  I forgot to take any pictures of them together.  

Back home again he wore his new Ninja turtle pajamas. 

On Tuesday I updated here on my blog.  After I picked Elizer up from preschool we went for a walk on campus.  It was another beautiful, warm day. 

This is a back view of Lori's building, Biobehavioral Health.  I believe the windows of her second floor office are behind those trees.  

Elizer and I went inside the Biobehavioral Health Building to look for Lori's office.  I was sure she was working from her home office that day, but I was curious.  After giving up, I happened to see one of her co-workers that I know.  She took us to see where Lori's office is.  I was sure I had passed every door on the second floor, but discovered that I had not gone to the very end of a hallway where her door is.  Her co-worker told me that Lori has a new, big, beautiful office since she's been promoted to full professor.  Lori never even told me that!  I definitely want to see it when she's there sometime. 

On Wednesday morning the sunrise was vast and beautiful!!  I wished I could be walking instead of driving (to pick up Elizer for preschool.)  I just held up my phone and snapped away, not even looking what I was taking.  I knew I had to be getting something beautiful!

Most beautiful of all was this view, as I was approaching the traffic light in Bellefonte. 

After I dropped Elizer off at school I went to the lovely Grays Woods Health Center, first of all for a podiatry appointment and then an echocardiogram.  I love going there because it's in such a beautiful setting and the building itself is so nice.  And best of all, there is the nicest little cafe that services coffee, muffins, and sandwiches made to order.  I was so glad to have plenty of time between appointments to sit and enjoy coffee and a freshly made BLT.  

Back at home I made taco meat and all the fixin's for us and for Anthony and Lori.  No time to make anything more detailed.  I picked up Elizer and we took the food over to Anthony and Lori's place.  I took this picture on the way up their private road.  

We usually get to their place at the same time Austin gets home from school.  Elizer gets so excited to see him! I told Austin he had to let me take a picture of him.  He's getting so tall, and so handsome, as always.

Unfortunately Elizer had a really bad cough all evening.  I had stopped at CVS on the way home to get some cough and cold medicine, but of course there's nothing very strong for a child his age. Dick was playing with him on this marble roller, but he was trying to protect himself from those coughing germs.  Elizer knows to put his arm across his mouth when he coughs, but he was not nearly always remembering.

On Thursday morning we also had a beautiful sunrise, although not as huge as Wednesday's.  

When I got over to Destiny's place for Elizer it was obvious he should not go to preschool.  He had a very persistent cough.  She had to go to work, so of course I took him home with me instead of to school.  Thus I got to see this view as I left her house.  I go the other direction when I take him to school.  

I did my laundry, which I always do on Thursdays.  He had some fun while I sorted laundry. 

We brought out some fun toys to pass the time as he coughed all over me.  Thankfully I have a very strong immune system.  Plus, I am very pro-active with using Zicam, as well as Ricola Honey Lemon lozenges with echinacea.  

I gave him several doses of the children's cough medicine throughout the day.  

During his nap I got my choir prep done (except for the piano practice I would have done otherwise.)

When he woke up we went to the park at the entrance to our community.  We mostly did the swing because I didn't want him to run and stir up more coughing.  

When we got back home I noticed that my Julia Child rose bush was popping again with the warm weather we were having!

By evening, when Destiny got Elizer before choir practice, his cough was noticeably less than it had been.

On Friday morning I was greeted by the first open bloom on my cactus!  I LOVE the color of these flowers so much!!

When I got my mail I was excited when I saw a handcrafted envelope with lovely calligraphy!  I knew it had come from our dear daughter Miki in Sweden!!

It was a birthday card for me - two weeks early!  I thought it looked nice in this corner. 

I love when the fire bush outside this slider gets its red leaves.

I made oven BBQ chicken, garlic roasted potatoes, and broccoli with browned butter for us and for Anthony and Lori.   I got other necessary catching up done around here too the rest of the day.

 

On Saturday I slept in again!  Dick was over at Anthony and Lori's for archery hunting.  In the morning I had time to get some work done here at the computer and around the house, then after lunch I met up with Destiny and Elizer.  We went to Talleyrand Park for a very special reason.  It was the first day that train excursions would be back - first time in nine years!  (I guess that means it's been more than nine years since Dick and I went on the train excursion from Bellefonte to Lock Haven to celebrate our anniversary.)  Talleyrand Park was having their fall festival, and half-hour train rides were running every hour.  I had gotten us tickets for the 3:00 ride.  

What a great time we had looking out the window, recognizing things as we went along.  Each time the train was crossing a road the whistle would blow. 

Here's a look at the inside of the train, complete with Fall decorations.  It was so hot when we sat waiting for it to leave, and we were dreading if it would be that hot the entire ride.  But as soon as it started to go it got much cooler.  Apparently air-conditioned. 

The train went 15 minutes up the track to an area called Axemann.  Then it reversed and headed back to Bellefonte.  The family across the aisle agreed to trade seats with us on the return trip so we would each be able to see different things than we had on the way out.  

We would love to do it again sometime.  And I would certainly want Dick to be able to go too.  We were really disappointed however that the festival food stands and the bouncy house were no longer available when we got back.  

When we got home Dick showed us the pictures he had taken at the new church building site.  The paving and drywall had gotten done last week.  Exciting!!!

On Sunday after church we hit the road for Lancaster.  We had Elizer with us since Destiny was at work.  We met Alex's dad at the Sheetz where we usually meet, and he took Elizer for the afternoon.  

Dick and I went to my sister-in-law Nancy's house where some of my family was gathering.  My sister Barb's son Eric was visiting from Idaho.  Because of his visit, my sister Betty drove down from New Hampshire.  Betty had spent lots of time with Barb's kids when they all lived in PA years ago.  

We had a great time catching up with Eric.  He showed us lots of pictures of his three kids.  Nancy had some snacks for us.  I notice that my pictures do not include my sister Doris and her husband Dale.  They were there, but had already left before I had thought to take any pictures.  

From Nancy's house we all went to Doris and Dale's house for pizza and more goodies.  More of the family was there as well.  It was loud and fun.

Dick and I left before 7:00 because of our long drive home.  They took this group picture after we left.  

We met Alex's dad to get Elizer back, then headed home in the rain.  Bless Dick.  I don't know how he can drive in the rain in the dark like he does.  But I'm thankful he can. 

I'm trying to finish this up now.  So that's it till next week's update.